Quick fastening device



Sept. 2, 1952 J. POUPITCH QUICK FASTENING DEVICE 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Feb. 7, 1945 azz . {jaw Sept. 2, 1952 o. J. POUPITCH 2,608,735

QUICK FASTENING DEVICE Filed Feb. 7, 1945' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 "Hi;- Illll Ill a shank portion I4 and a head It provided at one;

extremity thereof. The stud is disclosed in association with pair of work pieces or cowlingn shank is bifurcated at the entering extremityso as to accommodate and impinge the intermediate portion of a length of wire. The'portions of the wire extending from op osite sides of the shank providethe above'rnentioned resilient arms 24.

'In the embodiment disclosed in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, the stud structure is disclosed inoperative association with a companion stamping dei'signated generally by the numeral 25 which is permanently secured to the inner work sheet by means of rivets 28. The central portion of the 'stamoing is apertured so as to 'provid'e an opening 30, Figure 7, for receiving the stud shank M and radial openings 32 communicating-with the central o ening 30 foraccommodating the resilrefit latching arms 24. This opening an in the stamping 26 re isters with a larger o ening 34 in the work sheet; I 8, Figure 2. As the stud is telescopica ly associated with the re istering apertures 30 and 34; the arms 24 of said stud nass through the radial o enin s 32. Arcuate ribs 36,

stri ck u from the plane of the, stampin 26 serve to lirnit the lateralj or rad al deflection of the free extremities of the arms 24 beyondfa limited extent.

i f Prio r the associationot the stud with the work piece 18 and stamping 26, the arms 2 may occnpy either the strai ht.undefiected relation as illustrated in Figure 5 or may be preformed into ;a helix as illustrated in Figure '7. With the stud arms 24 occupying the position as illu trated in FigureS, wherein they are shown straight or lundefler-ted;. subseouent rotation of the stud causes the lower extremities of the arms to engage the stamping 29 in the vicin ty of the radial "openin s 32 so that the arms ultimately assume thehelical osition-shown in Figures 2 and 3.

In this position each armbecomes lodged between an abutment 38. on one side'and a dimple or protuberance 40 on the other side. The dimple 40 -may be made by indenting a side section or wall 42 bent upwardly from the margin of the .stamping 26. The arms 24 are adapted to snap past'the protuberance 40 as they reach the limit Qlof their rotatiOnIthereby preventing inadvertent jor, uninten tiona1 loosening of the q stud-. The ab jitments 38 constitute extensions from the upper margmor acompanion side wall 42.

" "It will also be noted that as'the free extremities of the arms rotatably jpass from the radial 1 openings or recesses 32 into engagement with arcuate-surfaces 44, Figure 6, they must initially pass over a downwardly bent section 45. This section.46 serves to facilitate the initial deflection 4 or bending of the arms. To reduce the force required to impart retrograde rotation to the stud, the free extremities of the arms 24 may be slightly rounded. However, in instances where increased resistance to retrograde rotation is desired, the arms may be provided with edges designed to bite into the surfaces 44. Y

Theresilientjarms 2a of the" stud: inj'lFigure 7 are bent into the disclosed shape prior to association with the work. As these arms turn with the stud shank they must be further deflected in order for theextremities thereof to slide along the arcuate surfaces M. It is this additional bending -or' flexing ofthe arms 24 which causes them to exert a strong clamping force. The arms 24, as illustrated in Figure 5, are deflected or bent into helical form during or as an incident to the rotation of the stud within the stamping. In each instance the stud arms are preferably deflected radially outwardly at their free extremities so as to secure the studwithin its complementary-outer work piece-2i 'Itwill be'noted in 'Figure'fi that the arms Zdnormally iiare outwardlytowards theirfree-eXtrei nities so as to overlie the stock of the work piece 28 defining the margin of the aperture 22. Thus when the stud is telescopically associated with the aperture 22 of the workpiece 28, the arms 24 will flex inwardly sufficiently'to permit passage of the stud but will automatically spring outwardly when the arms clear the work piece, thereby securingthe stud against unintentioned detachment from} the work sheetj lt is common practice to employ'a'plurality of fasteners of this type "with a coniplementaiy'series of apertures in a work sheet or 'cowling part. It is important th'at 'these s'tudsfat all timea be held within *the work piece 'or-cowling part in readiness for quick-association with'pr detachment from the complementary aperture of the otherfixedworkpartp i In Figures 1 to TinclusiVe a stamping 26 is dis.- closed, the central portion of 'which'is spaced from the plane of thefixed or inner worksheet E3. The purpose of thisspaced'relatiorr is'to insure disengagement of the extremities of the resilient stud arms 24 from the stamping; 1 lot infrequentlyf quickly detachable fasteners of: the type described are supported asagroup by the outer detachable worksheet 2E3. Therefore it is essentialthat the free extremities of each rcsilient stud arm becomes completely detached from its companion stamping upon partial reverse rotation to the stud. After all of the studs have been loosenedthe outer plate fifl may be completely removed from association with the inner plate. In instances where a single fastener stud is employed this problem is not presented because reverse rotation applied to the stud causes it to be disengaged from the inner work piece and the outer work piece can be simultaneously moved as a unit with the :stud.

In Figure 8 the stamping'is" sli htly modified in that the central portion thereofis not spaced from the plane of the inner workpie e I8, thus, as reverse rotation is imparted to the stud, the free extremities of the stud arms are soon brought into engagement with the inner surface. ofIt-he work piece 20. Further rotation of ,the stud causes the work piece 20 to becomeflseparated from the workpiece. In instances where two separable work pieces or sheets are secured together by a' single stud, the structural arrangement disclosed in Figure 8 may be employed. However, when a plurality of fasteners are ssociated with a single detachable work sheet the armsir'or rl'*passir'igovert I I I g From the foregoing it will R18 apparent that 'iomr ofzstampimgt-rshomn im-E'igures 1:. trr't .islree' Zommendedcl? 9:tozilsinclusive:armodifierliasterrer device-is shown: 'Thesstudmemberras illustrated .ihszstheses: figures, .is:-similar:to1the studs. thprevi- "masly;deseriheda of: a pairrrof protuberances. fiorxrreck onithe clamping: side therstudi: head. Ehe'stud, .in'lFigures: 9-. to 1:4 inclusive; is; designated: generally by the numeral 'l iizzanctfasll of its constituentiportions'; are; :given idEIlllifYIlHg-ldilliIflEIElSl corresponding to? the; nu

employedt'iddesnribihg stud? I 2'.

5 The: studstzacist'firstassociated :the:.o.uter morkrrdeue inserting -it mtkrough .ithe': aper- "tIiZEBlZZZLLITI: studr: fiaregout- W'a'rdlytmthe position in: ifiigusrerl soithat rarfiterzthes'studzhasbeemcompletelyrinserted white im'thersheet 2.0 theatres extremitiesiof thesarms the: stuctis secured agaihst inadvertent. detachmentror loss thesworllcpieeesor eowlingipartzhzilti The immerrworle part'tszi'srprovddediufithi an aperture corresponding tos. the aperture 30 oi? the stamping; 26 previously'fdescribedi Radialre cesses 32a, like the previously described recesses "of the: work piece i:8.. Thesarms are prevented fronrspringing radially outwardly: lay-the annular r'ilzn Slimextrudedironi the sheet I 8; After the -studv hasheerrrotatedr slightly less 180 the protuberancesfl onthe stud head :l fi 'are brought into-registration with \companion apertures 54, Figures 10 s The resilient or spri ng action ot'ithe arms t l' eauses these protubera'nces to awtomati'eally interlock with apertures; 54- a'nd thus secure the stud against inadvertent-rotation. In disclosed embodiment: the protuberances 52 tapered so: as to enable'di'sengagement; of said protuber'ances from: mencom lementary apertures M when sufilei'ent-rotative force is applied tm-the stuidi In other words. the interlocking of ttheiiprotuberances 52 and apertures 5 5 is suflicientto". prevent Jim-mentioned loosening of 1 the stud; hut willipermitretrograde rotationwhen detachmlent or th'e stud from the work piece 8} is required.

"The. -ma'.terialiof the-work piece-1d on one *sideofi'eaclr of the recesses 3221 is bentoutwardl y j'engagementrpf the "free extremities of each- 0i the arms 2.4i*as:-they are rotated the direc-tion "ofi loo'senm'gi "(clockwise as viewed in Figure --1f1-) As;these;free-extremities of the arms Z' -l approach the-radial recesses-32a; the outwardly turned-portions aii serv'e to guide-andd-ireet these -free-extreirriti'esinto the radial recesses and thus facili tatesretrograde movementzof the stud That is to 'say;'= the outwardly "turn-ed portions 56" serve -as deflectors to prevent the extremities oi,-- the stud adial recesses:

the device shown in-Fi'gures Q to l- 4 inelusi-ve pre eludes thewnecessity o1 providinganeauxiliary or :separatestamping -.part -sueh as the-'stampihgit .showrn; inQFiguresal to linclusiva Also; the extent te .whichr-..the work-piece: I Bis; preformed. tdiaoiwork or various thicknesses.

commadade thestudxlstzr does-jnnt-involive-Mthe-use oieompl-icated-ori QXPQHSiYQid'iESk: :eertairrim stances it may only lee-necessary; totproyide-aa simple opening consistingof "a-i centralsaperture andradialrecesses. This will enahleztherotativp entrance of; the stud the: subsequent deflect tion. or the stud. arms sodas; to firmly clamp the Work sheetstogether; By having; the-locking arrangement the stud; head; the-- necessity. of providing'stops-or" abutments. fondirectly; engaging thestud arms is-avoided-l. Hence: the presentinven-tiorr contemplates a quickly; operablefastener-..devicewhich; may beprod-uced' with-the utmost. oi economyan'd Whichmay be used. with.- outnneeessitating; an, expensive preforminggopere ation. upon either.- oi the workpieces. I

In figure 15;. a. slightly modified fastening' -are rangementiswdisclosed-L The structureof Fig-ilife-:15 is" similar every respect to the.-.-device shown. in Figures 9 to'l'l exceptthat. theextruded. locking portion. is. not spaced. from; the plane oi'thaworlrtsheet l 8., The deviceotliige urea 15,, like 'thendevicea of. Figure 8, ispartioularly adapted to beused' in instances. where work sheetsare-designedgto be secured. togetherxby a single-stud. Aspreviously pointedout, in conneetionw-ith the description of: Figure 8, the lock.-

ing. portion which cooperates with the free ex;-

item-the present invention. resides .;in..the-.adapt;-

ability oi a studof a given; size to'belused wi-th This is. accom: plished by employing the resilient stud arms which are deflectedor stressed as anlincident' to the rotative.v association thereof Withihei work piece. Iflthe thickness: of.,,thework .piece ism;- creased over. that disclosed inthedrawing;the studarmsfwill deflect. to .-a. greater extent. Con-.-

'versel-y if the. thicknessof the workpiece isrless the degree of deflection 'of. the armsis ,proportionately less. This. advantage constitutes a distinct advaneement over cowl fasteners here, tor-ore employed for. a predeterminedthickness otstoch wherein a. rigid. lateral. lug v of. a rotary stud -mem-her is designed to cooperate witha cam, surface associated with. the work: It will also be apparenl-t that. lateralshifting or; defies.-

7 tion or the studis .res-istedyby stresses. withimthe portion ofthe: wire material whiehtraverses-the stud shank. The; extentloi; sueh' rtesistingsti esses studarms. and abutment surfaceaproy-i-ded byithe studlheadt is normally less thamthe aoverall. thick:-

ness. of the workierwhich-: the stu'dis" designed tobeused; As shown in the drawing, theilateral work engaging abutment provided by the; unde'rside of stud head is locatedatone esrtremity of the stud: shank. However, the invention templates positioning a lateral abutment at any point along shank cooperative relationship with the; free extremities of"the deflectable -"or laterally shi'ii tabl'estud armsg some applica. tionsi'i t may be necessary to employ a "shanki 'of considerable length and in such instances the lateral abutment may be positioned intermediate the end of the shank. "'F'orpurpose of illustration certain specific structural embodiments have been disclosed herein but obviously the invention is not limited to these embodiments but is capableof other modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1.- A quickly attachable and detachable fastener' adapted to be inserted through an aper- -tured work structure of a given thickness for clamping the opposed work surfaces thereof and including a rotary stud member havinga shank portion, a lateral work engaging abutment spaced from one end of said shank portion for clampingly engaging one of the work surfaces, an elongated latching arm of firm resilient material for clampingly" engaging an opposed work surface and having one extremity thereof secured to said shank portion with the opposite extremity thereof-"being free and extending toward said abutment, the said free extremity terminating externally of the periphery of said shank portion a distance from said abutment less than the predetermined given thickness of the work structure in the vicinity of the aperture therethrough when in normal unclamped position, said latching arm being extended longitudinally of the shank and without the encirclement thereof adapting the stud for substantially axial projection through the work aperture, and whereby upon stud rotation the said free extremity of the latching arm is stressed to yieldingly coact with said lateral abutment in clamping the work surfaces therebetween, said latching arm when in clamping position having a curvature defined by its resilfiency in reaction to forces at the opposite ends thereof.

' 2. A quickly attachable and detachable fastener adapted to be inserted through an aper- 'tured work structure of a given thickness for clamping the opposed work surfaces thereof and including a rotary stud member having a shank portion, a lateral work engaging abutment spaced from one end of said shank portion for clampingly engaging one of the work surfaces, a pair of elongated latching arms of firm resilient material for clampingly engaging an opposed work surface,said arms being oppositely and symmetrically disposed in respect to the shank and each having one extremity thereof secured to said shank portion with the opposite extremity thereof being free and extending toward said abutment, the said free extremities terminating externally of the peripheryof said shank portion a distance from said abutment less than the predetermined given thickness of the work structure in the vicinity of the aperture therethrough when in normal unclamped position whereby upon stud rotation the said free extremities of the latching arms are stressed to yieldingly coact with said lateral abutment in clamping the work surfaces therebetween, and said latching arms when in clamping 1 position having a curvature defined by their resiliency in reaction to forces at the opposite ends thereof.

3. A quickly attachable and detachable fastener adapted to be inserted through an apertured work structure of a given thickness for clamping the opposed work surfaces thereof and including a rotary stud member having a shank portion, a lateral work engaging abutment spaced from one end of said shank portion for clampingly engaging one of the work surfaces, a .pair of elongated latching arms of firm resilient material for clampingly engaging an opposed work surface, said arms being oppositely and symmetrically disposed in respect to the shank and each having one extremity thereof secured to said shank portion with the opposite extremity thereof being free and extending toward said abutment, the said free extremities terminating externally of the periphery of said shank portion a distance from said abutment less than the predetermined given thickness of the work structure in the vicinity of the aperture therethrough when in normal unclamped position, said latching arms being extended longitudinally of the shank and without the encirclement thereof adapting the stud for substantially axial projection through the work aperture, and whereby upon stud rota tion the said free extremities of the latching arms are stressed to yieldingly coact with said lateral abutment in clamping the work surfaces therebetween, said latching arms when in clamping position having a curvature defined by their resiliency in reaction to forces at the opposite ends thereof.

4. An article of sale comprising a stud provided with a transverse aperture and at the outer end with means for rotating the stud; and a resilient stiff hard elastic wire having a yoke part in said aperture and two arms emerging from opposite ends of the aperture and extending at least partly around the stud and toward the outer end.

5. A fastening device adapted to be secured to a plate-like structure having a hole therethrough, the margin of the hole at the inner face of the structure having opposite marginal notches and exposed engagement portions therebetween; said device comprising a stud rotatably disposable in said hole and provided at the outer end with a head engageable with the outer face of the structure; the inner end portion of the stud being remote from said structure and having stiff arms thereon joining the stud at said end portion and disposed slightly helically longitudinally of the stud at opposite sides of the stud and extended toward said head and having free engagement ends engaged with said exposed face of said engagement portions to hold the device and struc ture together; said arms being closely adjacent to the stud and out of contact with said inner member except at said engagement ends, the outer longitudinal face of said arms most remote from the stud being intermediately out of contact with any structure; said arms being short and stiff enough and sufficiently nearly straight and sufficiently nearly parallel to said stud, when the arms are thus longitudinally disposed and intermediately out of contact to hold said stud and structure together with a force of many pounds; said arms on assembly of the structure on the stud being adapted to pass into said notches, and on rotation of the stud in said opening being adapted to be disposed slightly helically and to yieldably cam from the notches to cause said engagement ends to engage the exposed face of said engagementportions to hold the studin place and the stud and structure together. 7

6. A stud element adapted to be secured in a hole in a plate-like structure, the margin: of the hole having'opposite marginal notches and exposed engagement portions therebetween at the inner face of said structure, said stud element comprising a stud rotatably disposable in said hole and provided at the outer end with a head efigageable with the mearaestrftne structure and avin a t nsv rse -anertur t nne portion remote from said structure; a stif elastic wire locking member havingits middle part in said aperture and'having stifi elastic arms disposed slightly laterally offset longitudinally :of theistud at opposite. sidessoftha'stud and extended-"toward said head and free engage.- ment ends gi'orciblyengagedrwith the exposed facei ofasai'd engagement -porti'on's; said being out of contact with said inner member except at said'enga'gement"endi'said arms being short and stifi enough andsufiiciently nearly straight and sufficiently; near ly{ parallel -'to-said stud when" the arms arethus longitudinally-dis posed-and 'near enough a to fthe -"stud where the arms join said middle part-to holdsaid studand structure together with a force of many pounds; said engagement ends being adapted, on rotation of the stud, to slide from said engagement portions to allow the arms to move through the notches to release the structure from the stud and outer member; said arms on assembly of the structure on the stud and on rotation of the stud in said opening being adapted to be disposed slightly laterally offset and to yieldably cam from the notches to allow said engagement ends to engage the exposed face of said engagement portions to hold the stud in place and the members together.

'7. A fastening device for securing together rigid superposed outer and inner metal plate members having coaxial holes therein, the plates being in rigid contact with each other at said holes and throughout, the margin of the hole of the inner member having opposite marginal notches and exposed engagement portions therebetween; said device comprising a stud rotatably disposable in said holes and provided at the outer end with a head engageable with the outer face of the outer member and having a transverse aperture in its inner end portion remote from said members; a wire locking member having its middle part in said aperture and having laterally ofiset exterior parts at opposite sides of the stud 4 and having engagement parts forcibly engaged with the inner plate at the exposed face of said engagement portions; said exterior parts being closely adjacent to the stud and out of contact with said inner member at all parts of the looking member between said engagement parts and said middle parts; said exterior parts when thus laterally oifset being unyielding enough intermediately and near enough to the stud where they join said middle part to hold the plates together with a force of many pounds; said engagement parts being adapted on rotation of the stud, to engage and press upon said engagement portions to hold the stud in place and press the members together.

8. A fastening device adapted to be secured to a plate-like structure having a hole therethrough, the margin of the hole at the inner face of the structure having opposite marginal notches and exposed engagement portions therebetween; said device comprising a stud rotatably disposable in said hole and provided at the outer end with a head engageable with the outer face of said structure and having a transverse aperture in the inner end portion of the stud; a

stiff elastic locking member having its middle part held in said aperture and having stiff elastic exteriori'parts being closely adiacent to she ate and-outer contact with said st eta-r xeept at said engagement parts-{and out I contact with' any 's'truture except at 's'ai part and saidengagement portions; said parts bein'g' stiif enough -a'z id' near enugh studfwhere'theyjoin the stud to ho and-"structure together with a rsre oe ma e pounds; .isai d exterior paragon assembly a "hisplates on the stud beingadapted m sses I said: notches and on rem-non or the; smash said openings being adapted to yiel'dably "il bs engagement ortionsan'd cam from the ma s taallow sai en agement parts to engage? pressupon the exposed face bf said engage-m portions "to old the studii 7 pa "and rorc th stud-andstructure'togethen 9. An article of sale comprising a stud provided near the inner end with'a transverse aperture and at the outer end with a tool-receiving head providing means for rotating the stud; locking means partly in said aperture and comprising stiff hard elastic side members at opposite sides of the stud extending toward the head; the parts of said side members nearest the head being resiliently movable relative to each other.

10. A fastening device comprising a stud provided at the outer end with a tool-receiving head; a portion of the stud remote from said head having arms thereon, said arms being stiff, elastic and slightly yieldable and disposed at opposite sides of the stud extended toward said head.

11. A fastening device as defined in claim 10, wherein said arms are provided on the stud as separate elements, each arm being connected to the stud at one of the arm ends.

12. A fastening device as defined in claim 10, wherein said arms are provided on the stud as separate elements, each arm being connected to the stud at one of the arm ends, there being cooperative means on the stud and arms to maintain the opposite free ends of the arms extended toward the stud head.

13. A fastening device as defined in claim 10, wherein said arms are provided on the stud as separate elements, each arm being connected to the stud at one of the arm ends, portions of the stud body gripping the arms at the connected ends thereof to anchor the connected arm ends fixedly to the stud.

14. A quickly attachable and detachable fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein the shank portion of the stud member clampingly engages the secured extremity of the arm to hold the arm with its opposite extremity in extending position.

15. A quickly attachable and detachable fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein the secured arm extremity extends generally radially from the stud shank portion, the arm being bent substantially right-angularly to provide its free opposite extremity extending toward the stud shank abutment.

16. A quickly attachable and detachable fastener as defined in claim 2, wherein the shank portion of the rotary stud member is provided with a substantially imperforate entering end, the secured extremities of the arms being substantially in juxtaposition thereto.

17. An article of sale as defined in claim 9, wherein said locking means comprises a length of substantially round wire, the wire portion within said aperture being gripped thereby to' hold the'wire 'immovably within said stud aperure.

11 18. A quickly attachable and detachable fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein the lateral work engaging abutment of the shank portion is provided with a locking protuberance for engagement with the work structure to prevent the unauthorized loosening of said fastener.

19. A fastening device as defined in claim 10, wherein said arms are disposed slightly helically 01 the stud when in initial position, prior to application to a work piece.

20. An article of sale as defined in claim 9, wherein the stud is bifurcated between said aperture and the entering stud end, the bifurcations gripping the locking means portion disposed 12 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS within said aperture to hold said locking means 15 nding U. S. Pat. 1,64 ,855 Nov. 8, 1927) in fixed position in respect to the stud body.

OUGLJESA JULES POUPITCH.

Number Name Date 838,203 Neil Dec. 11, 1906 2,121,784 Busby June 28, 1938 2,373,380 Cameron Apr. 10, 1945 10 2,410,441 Hattan Nov. 5, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 234,549 Great Britain May 28, 1925 423,706 Germany Jan. 11, 1926 566,857 Great Britain 01 1945 

